HALLELUJAH!

A strange thing happened a couple of Saturdays ago. The Opera Company of Philadelphia celebrated National Opera Week in a very special way.

The Opera Company’s Chorus plus over 600 singers from area choirs invaded Macy’s at Philadelphia’s Center City. That store, you might want to know, was once upon a time Wanamaker’s department store, one of the first department stores in the United States.

You also gotta know that the largest operational pipe organ in the world—the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ—is located in, of all places, this Macy’s, situated in a vast 7-storey court.

And so … the choral invasion of Macy’s a couple of Saturday, October 30.

600+ singers, a magnificent pipe-organ—an infiltration. The choristers blended in with the crowd of close-approaching-holiday shoppers. And, unbeknownst to the throngs of spenders, on cue, they broke into Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.

Incredible!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Suddenly and without warning comes the powerful notes … and words … and the truth of this chorus. Invading the mundane lives we live, the humdrum of our routines, the tedium of our hours and days and weeks. “Hallelujah,” indeed.

The LORD will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 146:10

I must confess it gave me goosebumps, when I saw the video the first time. (The only thing that’s better is the Dallas Seminary community singing its official hymn: “All Hail the Pow’r of Jesus’ Name” (Diadem).

But this was wonderful! What an astounding thing to hear, all of a sudden, from all around you:

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ.

Quoting from the book of Revelation.

… and He will reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 11:15

He will. Yes, He will! Hallelujah!

And on His robe and on His thigh
He has a name written,
“King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
Revelation 19:16

Amen! And amen! Hallelujah!

You can hear and see the Philly Opera Company’s unusual performance and the wonderstruck crowd’s responses here. More than 3 million have seen this item on youtube—it’s gone viral. Apparently, this year, only one other submission—about a record pot bust in New Jersey—has been viewed by more people. “Just beautiful,” said one commenter. “Brought tears to my eyes,” said another. “Perfect way to start the Christmas season,” gushed a third. “Would love to have been there,” voiced one. And it “[g]ave me goosebumps, hooray for the ‘Random Act of Culture’!” came from another.

“Random” whaaaaaaat? Did I hear “Random Act of Culture”?????

That’s the only sad note in this symphony of Hallelujahs: Macy’s and the Opera Company and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation—the sponsors of this Hallelujah surprise—designated this remarkable event a “Random Act of Culture.”

Sad, because this label likely reflects what most thought of this powerful piece by maestro Handel—just another aesthetically inspiring chunk of “culture.” No more!

Sad!

I hope most of those who sang and most of those who heard recognized what was being sung and what was being heard—that the King of kings and Lord of lords is coming to reign. He is!

And the government will rest
on His shoulders; ….
There will be no end to the increase
of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it
with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
Isaiah 9:6–7

The Lord omnipotent reigneth! Hallelujah!